4 Steps: Write A Screenplay

You’ve been telling everyone for years that you have a great idea for a movie. Why don’t you surprise everyone, including yourself, and actually write it? It seems like a massive undertaking, but broken up into four manageable chunks, it’s something anyone can do. Whether it’s any good is up to you.

While many "4 Steps" articles are things that can be done in 15 minutes, don’t expect immediate results with this task. There is no set amount of time it takes to write a screenplay. Jon Favreau wrote Swingers in two weeks, while John Irving took 12 years to write the screenplay for The Cider House Rules. Be realistic about how fast and productive a writer you are.

step 1

Craft your idea

First, decide what type of story you want to tell. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re new to screenwriting. The best advice is to keep it simple. Save mixing complex ideas for after you have a few screenplays under your belt. Pick a genre (comedy, drama, horror, action, etc.), and then narrow it down further. Think about your favorite movies and you’ll notice a pattern — it’s a buddy flick, monster movie, superhero adventure, or romance story. Your one favorite should be the story you tell. Don’t try to cram a buddy flick together with a romance story. Sure, there can be a love interest in a buddy flick, but it’s secondary. Write your idea out and then condense it to one sentence. When you’re able to tell people your idea in two breaths, it’s tight.

step 2

Break down your beat sheet

Once you have your idea, read screenplays of the best films in that genre. Notice the structure — the three-act structure — otherwise your script won’t be taken seriously. Grasping the whole script at once is too broad, so think of the script in beats. The script should run between 90 and 110 pages. Break that into about 10 beats: setup, problem, debate on how to solve problem, commit to plan around page 25, subplot, events around solving the problem, midpoint around page 55, problems continue, overcoming problems around page 85, and aftermath. Think of each as a little chunk and it will be easier to grip.